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New Orleans plays a starring role in NASA's Artemis II mission — a high-stakes crewed test flight marking America's return to the Moon.

Why it matters: Florida may get the glory for hosting the launch on Wednesday, but New Orleans built a significant part of the rocket that will take the crew to space.

The big picture: The two-hour launch window opens at 5:24pm CT.

Yet space travel remains unpredictable at best.

The Artemis II "stack" — that's the Space Launch System rocket plus the Orion spacecraft atop it — had to be rolled back into its hangar in late February to fix technical issues that prevented an earlier launch attempt.

If Wednesday's attempt is scrubbed, there are launch windows every day through Monday and again on April 30.

Image shows an infographic that outlines NASA's Artemis II mission

NASA's Artemis II mission will take a crew of four in the Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth. Graphic: Jonathan Walter and Paz Pizarro/AFP via Getty Images

Zoom in: Workers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility built the "orange parts" of the SLS that will carry Orion into space, Michoud director Hansel Gill says.

The new launch system is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. NASA ultimately plans to use it for missions to Mars.

Michoud built the system's core stage, which NASA calls the "backbone" of the rocket. Boeing is the prime contractor.

Zoom out: The 10-day Artemis II mission is a crewed "dress rehearsal" for a lunar landing.

NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch will become the first person of color and first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, respectively.

Canada's Jeremy Hansen will become the first non-American to voyage beyond that mark.

The timeline: While no small feat, Artemis II is only a lunar flyby.

NASA once planned a moon landing with Artemis III, but recently revised its schedule.

Artemis III will now involve testing lunar lander vehicles, with a moon landing targeted for Artemis IV in 2028.

What's next: NASA hopes to return to the Moon annually, if not more often, with the ambitious goal of establishing a lunar base.

But first: A quick visit to check out the cosmic neighborhood before getting into the real estate market.

Photo illustration of NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen in front of an old  Old engraved illustration stars of Northern Sky

Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios; Photo: NASA

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New Orleans built key piece of NASA's Artemis II rocket

Image show four astronauts in blue flight suits in front of the large Artemis rocket.

Left to right: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Photo: Bill Ingalls/NASA/Getty Images

New Orleans plays a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="starring role" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/03/05/artemis-space-launch-system-michoud-built" data-vars-content-id="81a45adb-8ea4-4e89-a6bf-d77ef7a4f5aa" data-vars-headline="New Orleans built key piece of NASA&#x27;s Artemis II rocket" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/03/05/artemis-space-launch-system-michoud-built" target="_self">starring role</a> in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NASA&#x27;s Artemis II mission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/04/01/artemis-nasa-space-moon-huntsville" data-vars-content-id="81a45adb-8ea4-4e89-a6bf-d77ef7a4f5aa" data-vars-headline="New Orleans built key piece of NASA&#x27;s Artemis II rocket" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/04/01/artemis-nasa-space-moon-huntsville" target="_self">NASA&#x27;s Artemis II mission</a> — a high-stakes crewed test flight marking America&#x27;s return to the Moon.Why it matters: Florida may get the glory for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hosting the launch" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/30/mosi-to-host-artemis-ii-watch-party" data-vars-content-id="81a45adb-8ea4-4e89-a6bf-d77ef7a4f5aa" data-vars-headline="New Orleans built key piece of NASA&#x27;s Artemis II rocket" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/30/mosi-to-host-artemis-ii-watch-party" target="_self">hosting the launch</a> on Wednesday, but New Orleans built a significant part of the rocket that will take the crew to space.

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New Orleans built the backbone of NASA's next Moon mission.

Why it matters: Artemis II will mark NASA's first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years — and a major piece of the rocket was made in New Orleans East.

The big picture: Workers at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility built the "orange parts" of the Space Launch System that will carry the Orion spacecraft, Michoud director Hansel Gill says.

The 10-day Artemis II mission will see U.S. astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, plus Canadian Jeremy Hansen, fly around the Moon and back.

NASA hopes to launch in April after delaying twice already.

Image shows Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA's Artemis II rocket with the Orion spacecraft is rolled back from the launch pad on Feb. 25 at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Paul Hennesy/Anadolu via Getty Images

Zoom out: The new launch system is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. The long-term goal is to use it for a deep-space mission to Mars.

It's the only system capable of sending the spacecraft, astronauts and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

A massive barge called Pegasus transported it to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

How it works: The 212-foot-tall core stage includes four engines, two propellant tanks, and flight computers, according to NASA.

The tanks hold 733,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen, fueling the engines for eight minutes until the rocket reaches low-Earth orbit.

The core stage will then separate from Orion. 

Image shows a graphic describing how the Artemis II will launch from Florida, circle the Earth and Moon and then splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

Graphic: Jonathan Walter and Paz Pizarro/AFP via Getty Images

Zoom in: Michoud is one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the country at more than 2 million square feet, Gill said at a recent media event in Huntsville, Alabama.

It covers 40 acres under its roof, or 31 football fields, he said, and employs more than 3,500 people.

"Michoud has loads of capability" and "a vibrant workforce that completely loves playing its integral role in producing hardware for the NASA mission," Gill said.

"We've been making meaningful contributions to the agency for close to 65 years, and I ... believe we are well positioned to continue to make those contributions."

What's next: They're already working on Artemis III, IV and V at Michoud, Gill said.

The Artemis IV mission aims to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028.

Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick contributed to this story.

Image shows astronauts, dressed in blue flight suits, holding microphones and talking on a stage.

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman holds a press conference Jan. 17 with Artemis II mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman. Photo: Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images

NASA's next lunar mission has deep New Orleans roots

Artemis II is scheduled to launch in April.

Man in dark suit and striped tie speaking at a NASA wooden podium with microphone, blue background with large white text and image of the moon

Hansel Gill is the director of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility. Photo: Derek Lacey/Axios

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="cad93e16-eaac-4072-a86f-27dbdd5e7c21" data-vars-headline="NASA&#x27;s next lunar mission has deep New Orleans roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> built the backbone of NASA&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="next Moon mission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/07/19/artemis-ii-core-stage-rocket-engine-moon-mission" data-vars-content-id="cad93e16-eaac-4072-a86f-27dbdd5e7c21" data-vars-headline="NASA&#x27;s next lunar mission has deep New Orleans roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/07/19/artemis-ii-core-stage-rocket-engine-moon-mission" target="_self">next Moon mission</a>.Why it matters: Artemis II will mark NASA&#x27;s first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years — and a major piece of the rocket was made in New Orleans East.

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New Orleans is partnering with other cities and states in a new trade organization focused on strengthening local music scenes.

Why it matters: Louisiana's music industry is worth $1.4 billion and employs more than 35,000 people.

The big picture: The Association of Music Offices formally launched Monday at the Music Biz 2026 conference in Atlanta. 

The group plans to develop a data framework to quantify impact, build community engagement models and create a resource library for music offices.

Nationwide, the music industry adds $212 billion to America's GDP, supporting 2.5 million jobs, according to 50 States of Music.

Zoom in: Music offices support local music economies by working with artists, venues, businesses and government to help shape policy, programs and investment.

There are enough civic music offices across the country that it made sense to form an association instead of just running into each other at events, Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella told Axios.

New Orleans' Office of Nighttime Economy and Louisiana's Office of Cultural Development are among the 14 founding members.

Other groups are in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The Recording Academy is a member, too.

Zoom out: "A lot of times it becomes our job to make decision-makers understand that so much of our industry is invisible," Reid Wick, the Recording Academy's director of regional advocacy and member engagement, told Axios. He's based in New Orleans.

The average person attends a show and sees a handful of people on stage, he said, but there may be 800 people working behind the scenes.

"It's time that we treat the music industry like any other industry," Wick said, noting that the film industry has had similar organizations for decades.

The bottom line: "Some people are foodies, some are into sports, some are into music," Mandrella says. "Having music in a community really, really helps."

New Orleans joins national effort to promote music investment

Louisiana's music industry employs more than 35,000 people.

Photo shows Tarriona "Tank" Ball of Tank and the Bangas singing on stage.

Tarriona "Tank" Ball of Tank and the Bangas at Tipitina's. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="ccb6b827-e753-4f5c-a656-b871dd4a4e6b" data-vars-headline="New Orleans joins national effort to promote music investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> is partnering with other cities and states in a new trade organization focused on strengthening local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="music scenes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/music" data-vars-content-id="ccb6b827-e753-4f5c-a656-b871dd4a4e6b" data-vars-headline="New Orleans joins national effort to promote music investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/music" target="_self">music scenes</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Louisiana&#x27;s music industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.louisianamusicpartners.com/about" data-vars-content-id="ccb6b827-e753-4f5c-a656-b871dd4a4e6b" data-vars-headline="New Orleans joins national effort to promote music investment" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.louisianamusicpartners.com/about" target="_blank">Louisiana&#x27;s music industry</a> is worth $1.4 billion and employs more than 35,000 people.

Derek Lacey

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